PORTSMOUTH - Brad Washburn is making first place his first choice.

Washburn, a senior for Shawnee State, became the third individual Bear player to win the team's own invitational

golf tournament.

Washburn shot an even par 144 with matching rounds of 72. The medalist honors were the first of his career.

With Washburn taking top individual honors, Shawnee State won the 8-team tournament for the fourth time in its 13 years of existence. The Bears had a two-day total of 608, six strokes ahead of Ohio Dominican and eight in front of third place Cedarville.

Shawnee State followed up its own invitational by winning the Ohio University at Chillicothe Invitational and Washburn again led the way.

Washburn took medalist honors for the second time as he fired a 75.

The Bears had a team score of 321 over on the par 72, 6,983-yard course. Miami-Hamilton also had a 321 team score and Ohio State at Newark was third in the 16-team field with a 328 total.

Washburn, who helped Ironton High School to reach the state tournament, lettered one year at Marshall University before transferring to Shawnee State.

As a junior, Washburn averaged 79.3 strokes through 16 rounds. His best round of the season was a 75 and came in the first of three at the AMC/NAIA Region Tournament. He went on to place 16th overall.

During his sophomore season, Washburn averaged 79.7 strokes in seven rounds. His season-best round of 76 came at the Mt. Vernon Invitational.